What's to come

I know I haven't been around, stuff has happened, I just haven't blogged about it. Nothing serious or anything, just things I would have blogged about.

At this time of the year, I tend to start thinking, what other stats can I keep track of next year? If you followed me for over a year, then you know at the first of the year, I post a stats post on the things I've done this year. I haven't really thought of anything to add yet so we'll see.

I also think, should I start other blogs? If so, what would they consist of? Like I don't have enough of them to do now. I don't know why I do but I usually start a couple a year, some of them I keep up, some of them I delete after a few months or so. As of now, the only blog I'm thinking about adding is maybe a duplicate of one I already run, only on Tumblr. Again, we'll see.

I've also been thinking about making more of a commitment to this blog. Even if it's just a what I did today kind of posts. For one, they would go right along with another project that I started earlier this month. Do you know what Timehop is? It's basically that, only I've added all my stuff to it and put it on a spreadsheet.

Here's todays for example.

What you can't see is I also have a column for who I was with, where I was and city and state. I think eventually, I'll try to add photos and such with it. Even the ones back in the 80's were marked with the date. So as you see, even if I just post what I did that day, it'll go right along with that. 

I have a few more days before January 1st to figure it out so we'll see what I stick with and what I don't.

Big Ten Stadium #4

A long time ago, but not probably very many blog posts ago, you may remember that I'm tracking my steps on a map and I'm doing a stadium tour. I'm mainly hitting Big Ten schools and the MLB stadiums but I may hit others along the way. I'm out west on the map so posts are pretty far between each other but on a positive note, I get a couple of thousand more steps a day with the new job so maybe it'll go a little faster. Although, once again, I forgot to take my Fitbit off the charger this morning so I have to guess my steps again.

Day 277, Iowa City, IA (884.5 miles)

Well if you know your Big Ten stadiums, then you know where I'm at. I finally made it to the Iowa Hawkeyes stadium (Kinnick stadium.)

I'm already on to my next stadium as I actually got to this one yesterday and forgot to post it. The next stop is another Big Ten stadium further west. Can you guess it without looking?

While I'm definitely not getting the 1500 miles like I had wanted (Sundays still kick my ass) but I'm moving right along now. I average a couple of thousand more steps at my new job then the past, plus I work 2 out of every 3 weekends so my weekend steps are way better.

I was already up around Chicago when I started the stadium tour but this is still my 9th stadium so far.

1. Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago White Sox - MLB)
2. Soldier Field (Chicago Bears - NFL)
3. Ryan Field (Northwestern Wildcates - B1G)
4. Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs - MLB)
5. Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers - MLB)
6. Camp Randall (Wisconsin Badgers - B1G)
7. TCF Bank Stadium (Minnesota Golden Gophers - B1G)
8. Target Field (Minnesota Twins - MLB)
9. Kinnick Stadium (Iowa Hawkeyes - B1G)

The above map is a general route. When I get to a new city, I add it and it maps the most direct route and not necessarily the actual route I had mapped myself out.

Court with the Ex

So my ex hasn't paid support in over 3 years. She gets arrested on other warrants in February of this year. While in custody, another court date is spit out in regards to her not paying support. That all is supposed to happen.

Court date was March 16th. Everything pretty much went my way until the very end when the judge told her that he was granting a continuance in order for her to get an attorney because he doesn't think she realizes how much trouble she's in.

New court date, May 15th. On May 10th, they file for another continuance and it is granted.

New court date, June 5th. June 5th never comes to be because of another continuance.

New court date, June 19th. We actually go to this court date, only for it to be continued again until October 23rd because she is trying to claim disability on why she can't work and we have to wait until she gets approved or denied. She pays $1000 towards her back support after this hearing.

On July 10th, she files a motion to have her child support lowered, court date is set for August 28th. I assume she can only ask for this because of the one payment of $1000 that she paid at the last court date.

So today, I go to court for the motion to modify support. Basically, they say she can't pay so they would like it to be $0. Because they are waiting on disability, she can't work, so she can't pay. The judge asks if I have anything to say, my response "It's not about having the money, it's about priorities. She's paying for her own lawyer. 3 weeks ago they went on a vacation to Myrtle Beach. She's choosing not to pay."

What comes of that? She no longer has to pay support until our next hearing on January 8th. They cancelled the one in October as well.

In summary, she gets arrested for not paying support in February of this year, and not a thing will happen to her until at least January of next year. To be honest, I doubt that anything will happen to her then. Meanwhile, I'm the one supporting everything. So tell me, how is this judicial system set up for the children?

I don't even blame the judge because I think if he could, he would rule in my favor, you can tell he's sick of her crap as well. It's the system that has him handcuffed. It's ridiculous.

She still gets her normal visitation only now, she doesn't have to pay me a dime. She gets to sit on her ass while all of us working people get to pay her bills. It's a wonderful fucking system we have.

A Catch-Up Post

It's been a somewhat busy week or so for me which is a rarity. On Thursday of the previous week, I called up to the general managers office at work. I walked in and said "I feel like I'm in trouble and got called to the principals office" he replied with "nope, it's all good news." So I sat down and he asked me a few questions about previous anodizing experience (I have 14 years in that field) and proceeded to tell me that one of the other plants have been asking about me and basically wanted to know if I was interested. After all was said and done, I am. This all came about because my old supervisor at the place I have the anodizing experience, now works at the other plant.

I then got called to go out to the other plant for an interview, on company time which is nice since it's a half hour drive. I drove out there, they basically interviewed me while they gave me a tour of the plant. I was out there for around an hour and a half, met a bunch of the big wigs and headed back. They ended up offering me the job later that Friday and I accepted. They told me that they would like to have me out there the next Thursday and Friday for some classes that they were giving so I let my plant know and they said it was cool.

That Friday night we headed out to Jellystone to go camping with the family. It was a good time but both of my kids didn't really take advantage of all the swimming and pool slides and stuff available so while it was a great place, I don't see myself going back. It is kind of geared more for younger kids than mine are but all in all, it was a good time.

It was a relatively slow work week on Mon-Wed as I'm just biding my time until they let me transfer. Thursday and Friday I spent out with my new job for a couple of hours as well as the time spent in the classes. The new job is a really good opportunity for me and I can't wait to get started out there. I had all kinds of higher ups introduce themselves and would tell me they were glad I was there, basically, made me feel important. It's been a long time since I felt that way at my job. Most of them know about me because I am filling a created position so it's like it was created specifically for me. It kind of sucks that I have to go back to my old job next week.

All week long while I was working, Cheri was home baking 40+ dozen (mini) cupcakes and a wedding cake for our niece. So the house has smelled extremely good. On Thursday, after some drama from the school, while we had our daughter sitting in front of us, we had a discussion on whether or not she was allowed to date because she had a boy that was interested in her and she was in him. So on Friday, she came home telling us she had a boyfriend now. Yikes!

Friday night, we went out to where the wedding was being held to drop off the cupcakes and most of the wedding cake. We also nabbed some Chik-Fil-A as we always do when we are on that side of town.

Saturday evening, we had the wedding, We went out an hour early to get the cake stacked all up, I should have gotten a picture for you all but honestly, we were putting everything together and I don't think I took more than 2 photos all night. It was a truly beautiful wedding, on a beach off of a lake. We had a good time. Our oldest daughter made it up as well so we got to spend some time with her. Our relationship has gotten a lot better in the last couple of years and I enjoy spending time with her. Plus, we're dog sitting her dog for a week until she comes up for another wedding next weekend. That always makes my wife happy, she loves that dog.

Today, we didn't do much. I ran the kids around a few places. Samantha dropped off a job app and filled out another one online so we'll see how that goes. She's only 15 so her places are limited as to where she can work. She's also been busy taking her online drivers ed so it could be a rough year for the nerves.

Tomorrow, I have to go back to court for child support. The ex-wife made one payment in 3 years and that apparently is enough for her to take me back to court to try to lower her weekly non-payments. Whatever, she doesn't pay so does it really matter on how much she gets added to her back support every week.

I think that's about it. That may not seem like much to you guys but we don't do much around here so for us, it's been an eventful couple of weeks. Once I get transferred to the new plant, I'll give a little more details about my new job but just know, I am very grateful for this opportunity and it comes with a lot of benefits that I don't have now.

Routines

We all have routines, I definitely have routines but they were disrupted this week. Cheri had decided to run off to Virginia with her daughter and to spend time with her son (and other family and friends) which left me and the younger kids on our own. Not technically on our own since our cat is here, as well as my daughter's dog. Certainly nothing I can't handle, I'm a big boy, but I have routines that when I get out of them, I get lost.

My work morning routine is get up, do bathroom stuff, get dressed in the closet (so I don't wake Cheri) then I go to the kitchen, get my lunch together, put on my shoes, put on my glasses (prescription safety glasses) and head for the garage to go to work.

My routine this week is more or less the same but I had to add a few things. With Cheri gone, if I don't feed the animals, they won't get food until the kids get up which could be as late as noon (not usually, but it has happened). So I check both their dishes as well as open my sons door so the dog can go sleep in his room after I leave. If I don't open the door, he thinks he's alone and whines for a little bit which will wake my son up anyways. If I open his door, the dog will just go get into bed with him until he wakes up.

As you can see, not much change, but there was one morning where I stepped out into the garage and couldn't figure out why everything was blurry. I then realized that I didn't put my glasses on. I was out of sync.

My nightly routine, is I put away what ever I have out by my recliner, put my phone on the charger then go to the bathroom (take contacts out, brush teeth) go into the closet and get out of my PJ's and go to bed.

Without Cheri here, I also let the dog outside, check the water dishes and clean the litter box before bed. Once again, not much addition but it's enough. I went through that routine and went to bed. When I got up the next morning, I went through the other routine only this time, I put my glasses on and everything got blurry. Apparently, I forgot to take my contacts out the night before.

The problem this time though was because I had just gotten up (I usually walk out the door 15 minutes after I've gotten up) and I had slept in my contacts. I couldn't get them out because they were stuck to my eyes. So I had to grab my glasses and my contacts case and hope by the time I got to work, they would come out. They did after a bunch of intentional (and non-intentional) yawning to get some moisture in my eyes.

I have other routines, such as when I first get to work as well as when I get on my laptop (I have a daily's bookmark that I work my way though) but I'm always amazed at how little I get screwed up when I get a little out of my routine.

Stadium Tour continues

Day 193, Minneapolis, MN (605.35)

I haven't posted about my walking in awhile. I still don't really go walking but I do still keep track of my steps and such and still track it on a map. I'm in the process of hitting all the MLB and Big Ten stadiums but I didn't start until half way through the tracking so I have some backtracking to do. Anyways, as you can see above, I'm in Minneapolis which is home of the Minnesota Twins as well as the Minnesota Golden Gophers. I passed them both earlier this week just hadn't gotten around to posting them.

I went through the Minnesota campus first and walked past the TCF Bank Stadium. I believe it was Monday of this week. Then just a couple of miles up the road I walked by this.

It look much nicer than that domed stadium they had before. Let's check out what we've seen so far.

1. Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago White Sox)
2. Soldier Field (Chicago Bears)
3. Ryan Field (Northwestern Wildcats)
4. Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs)
5. Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers)
6. Camp Randall (Wisconsin Badgers)
7. TCF Bank Stadium (Minnesota Golden Gophers)
8. Target Field (Minnesota Twins)

I'm heading South, mainly because there isn't crap in the North West states until you get on the coast. I'm going to head a little back to the East to hit a spot that I missed before I decided what stadiums I was going to do.

What happened to you?

I haven't post in awhile but I want to get this off my chest. Before I start, if you want to read more here about the things my ex and her husband have done in the past, check out the labels to the right. "the Ex" is the ex, "the JackAss" is her husband. Although both of them go to the same pages for the most part.

Let's start this letter off with what triggered it to begin with. After court the other day, you sent me a text saying that I have to follow the custody agreement that says we have to meet half way on your weekends. First off, like I told you on the phone, I find it highly hypocritical that you think I have to follow the custody agreement when you don't. That same agreement says you have to pay child support, which you haven't for 3 years. Secondly, I know what the law says, you were the one who didn't. I didn't say I wouldn't meet you half way because you weren't paying support. I just took advantage of the fact that you're not that bright. I didn't have a problem meeting you half way until you moved 2 hours away from your children to begin with. If it was for a job or something, I would understand but it was because that's what your husband wanted. To be closer to his family (not kids.)

I remember when we were together and we used to shake our head at the deadbeat parents that we knew. We couldn't believe the things they were doing to their children. Guess what? You have become one of those. What the hell happened to you? You were the one that wanted kids so bad and now you don't even take care of them. Other than spending every other weekend with them, you do absolutely nothing to take care of their needs.

Do you know who does? I do. The person that you think is an asshole and that is damaging your relationship with your kids, specifically your daughter. I'm not "turning her against you", you are. She sees you for what you are and I'm sorry that you can't face that. She knows who just paid for her drivers ed, she knows who will help her get a car and help her with her insurance. She knows that her stepmom (who she calls mom on occasion) will be there to help her pick out her prom dresses and anything else she needs help with. That's why she refers to us as her parents to anyone that asks. Not her dad and stepmom, her parents. She knows which parents are always there when she needs something. Don't be blind, she still loves you, you're her mom. She has just lost all respect for you.

That all started to fall apart when you married your current husband. Not that they hated that you got remarried, but the fact that you wouldn't protect them or stand up for them when he talked bad about them. You didn't stand up for your son when he was calling him names. You let him order them around and make them do everything in the small amount of time they had to spend with you. Sure, they can tolerate him more now because he's not as much as a dick as he was before, but that doesn't mean they have forgotten. They know which parent drove an hour and a half to pick them up at a mall because he went after your son.

What I really want to know though, is why you think you are above all of us working people? You have never wanted to work (nobody really does.) That was probably our greatest crutch when we were married. Did you not see a problem when we went to do our taxes one year and you had 13 different W2's? Do you remember when we used to talk bad about those people who lived off the system? Those who used to pop kids out for more welfare and then not take care of the them? Guess who has become that person now? You filed for disability because of joint pain? Seriously? We're in our 40's, we all have joint pain. You've never wanted to work and this is your way of getting out of it. Thank God the kids have me to look up to for a stable work influence. They see at least one parent that goes to work every day, regardless if he is sick or not, in order to provide for them. What absolutely kills me is how your father would feel about this. He was a hard worker who worked through all his aches and pains and the person you probably looked up to the most and you have become the complete opposite.

After all that, I got an email today that said you have filed for a Motion to Modify Support. You want to lower your child support payments? You already pay less than most people pay for 1 child and you have 2. I don't really care what they make the support payments because I haven't seen anything anyways so all you're doing is making less of an impact each week on what you owe. Personally, I don't know why the courts are even letting you take me back since you haven't paid in so long. Then again, the system has been in your favor ever since we separated. Even though I'm the custodial parent, I'm still the father and the system is set up for you to win.

I'm not saying I'm the perfect parent, I'm far from it. The difference is, I know what my flaws are, where you apparently have none. The difference is, I'm there for my kids, financially and personally. The difference is, I have provided a stable home environment for my kids, you've moved at least 10 times in the last 7 years. The difference is, I'm here, each and every day for our kids. They don't hear from you until they get the text every 2 weeks asking if they are coming over.

ESPN is feeding me?

So, I was looking at my stats briefly. I do check them periodically but just so I know what's going on. My stats aren't real high, my posts don't get a lot of pageviews so to be honest, there isn't a whole lot to look at anyways. I do like to check out my referring URLS just to see where people are coming from. On my sports blogs, there's a lot of Google listed because of the players and teams posted but here, you never know what you'll see.

Why is most of my traffic coming from ESPN site? I would love to see that on my sports blogs but here?  I clicked on them all and they all go to different pages of the same guys fantasy baseball team. It's not even a team from this season, they are all from previous seasons. I have no idea. I understand that somehow (don't ask me how) people can fake where it's coming from and it comes up with some oddball sites but all that above, I just don't get.

A big shoutout to Suldog though, this list is the last 30 days and he is on my top 10 all-time for this blog as well. Be sure to check him out, he's an actual writer now for the Boston Herald.

Prompt #2 - Listen to your mother

I've got some time today so I figured I'd do another prompt. I plan on working on my cards most of the day but I figured I'd take some time to do this before I get going on that.

#556 - A time when you should have listened to your mother.

I could probably make a huge list for this one but I don't really remember one specific time as in her actually telling me not to do something. That's probably because I generally did things and then she told me why I shouldn't have because like most teenagers, I didn't ask my mom for help because I knew everything.

I can give you all kinds of instances where I should have listened. Quitting basketball tryouts would be number 1, because I still hear about that to this day.

She always told me that my skipping school would reflect on my working career. Technically she was right, I used to skip work all the time as well. That has changed though, pretty much when I started having kids, funny how that happens. Now I get a certificate every month at work for perfect attendance. I usually have to fight my group leader to throw it in the trash because she likes to hang them on the wall. They are my certificates however, so I win that battle every time.

I don't really have a ton of regrets, because I'm one of those the journey that got you there. The only thing I would really change about my life right now would be if I didn't have to work. I hate going to work everyday and if I could afford not to, I wouldn't.

Do I regret my first marriage? Yes and no. Yes, because I feel like I wasted a lot of years with someone who I'm not sure ever really loved me. On the other hand, she gave me 2 great kids and those 14 years we were married was building me up to who I am today and that person won over my current wife, whom I love. So by that logic, you can see why I have little regrets.

Even the whole quitting basketball thing. Do I regret quitting tryouts for the high school team? Yes, because I could have at minimum, gone to college for free. But would I have ended up with my wife or the kids I have without it? Probably not.

To sum all this up, I asked my mom why she didn't tell me to not get married the first time, she said, you wouldn't have listened to me if I did. She was right.

I don't know if I ever really answered the question, but I got a post out of it, so there is that.

Day 119, Tomah, WI (391.4 Miles)

I'm making my way across Wisconsin but I'm really not close to anything and won't be for awhile. It's cold and rainy today so I doubt I get much in. I'll be lucky to get 1000 steps today.

A long (sorta) walk

I was sitting around this morning, playing around on my laptop and trying to catch up on the DVR and was thinking, I really should go for a walk. I also decided that I was hungry so I figured I'd throw those together and walk somewhere for some lunch. I Googled a few places to make sure they weren't to far, I'd hate to have to call the wife and say, um, can you come pick me up? I picked 7-Eleven, which for those who don't know what that is, is a convenient store. They have great hot dogs (3/4 pound) as well as Taquito's but I was really wanting the Hot Dog. I Googled and the closest was down by the Walmart but the road there has a little bit of a hill which on a car you barely noticed, but walking is a different story. As easy as it is for me to get out and walk, I still have leg and back issues to where walking up and down a hill is a problem. So I chose the second furthest location and set out.

Part of my walk is down a fairly busy road, actually most of the walk was and I passed someone who acted like they knew me. She got excited and waved. I have no idea who it was, I didn't recognize the car and being as they flew past probably doing at least 50 mph, I didn't see her either. I haven't heard anything via text or Facebook yet so I wonder if it was somebody from work. Guess I'll find out tomorrow.

I walked all the way there and I really didn't want to stop, I felt like I was on a groove so I went in, grabbed a dog and a Gatorade and ate it on my walk back. It was a little difficult being as I have breathing issues through my nose and it's a little difficult to breathe and eat, both with your mouth, at the same time. I did manage though.

About 3/4 of the way back, I was getting tired. I was starting to feel it in my legs and just wanted to get home. I also noticed that my hands had swollen up. I wasn't sure what to make of that and what it meant. I was a little worried that it was a medical issues but my wife Googled when I got home. Apparently it is common and has to do with blood flow not getting to your hands as well because it's pumping harder. Common, maybe, but it's never happened to me.

I set a new high for miles for a walk, not for total steps in a day or anything but the longest for getting out there and walking. I actually blew my old high by quite a bit.

Not to bad considering I hadn't walked in 3 weeks. What's funny was when I got home and looked at my phone, my mom had invited me to a daily showdown on Fitbit. Little did she realize that I just did this walk so I clicked join and bam, I'm up already by 9,000 steps. She picked the wrong Sunday for that.

Day 112, Mauston, WI (364 miles)

Maybe I can keep walking this week and get out of the middle of nowhere so I have something to share of.

Prompt #1 - Something I made by hand

I have a list of writing prompts bookmarked and I random them all to see what I write about.

#239 - Share something you made by hand.

Well if you know me, then you know this will be a short post. I am not handy, at all. Sure, I can use tools and figure stuff out, I'm not a moron. Contrary to what some people think. If you sit me down and show me how to do something, I can probably do it. The question is, do I want to do it?

I was taught how to do an oil change and even though I never did one one on my own, I'm confident I could probably do one if a gun was held to my head. The difference is, I would rather pay someone else to do it. It's not something I enjoy so why would I want to do it?

I can and have used many power tools but to this day, if family sees me using something, they are shocked. I've worked in factories for years, I drive a forklift for a living now, but if it comes to working with my hands. Nope, nobody thinks I can. Even though I have helped family put up roofs and siding, put up fences and put down flooring, poured cement, put together shelves and other such things. Oh, I also used to work in steel construction but I can't use a wrench, oh, okay. Do I know how to do any of those things? No, not really, but all you have to do is show me how and I'll go to town.

As far as something I created by hand, I can't really come up with anything. I'd rather purchase something then make something. I get that from my mom. I don't have the patience to put something together. I don't really have the patience to fix things either. My wife usually does things like that just because she gets mad at me because I get mad at whatever I'm fixing. People, all the patience in the world. Things, no patience what so ever.

Day 111, Mauston, WI (362.5 Miles)

I haven't been very good at walking this week. Some overtime at work but mostly just lazy. I didn't even really have any good days at work. I think the only day I hit 8,000 was yesterday and I hit that right before bed.

I'm out in the middle of nowhere at the moment so nothing special to show. I'm still around 200 miles from my next destination so nothing definitely going on that's to exciting.

I was going to go walk today but I got roped into doing some yard work, it got me some steps but not many. I really need to get in the habit of walking again. I take one day off and I'm done, it's rather pathetic.

State of the Blog

I know, I've gone missing again. I'm still doing the walking thing as far as keeping track of my steps. I haven't, however, been very good at going out walking after work. I've been doing just enough to get my 8,000 during the week. I've been working a little more which was partly the cause but truth be told, if I had the motivation, I could have gone for at least a lap in the neighborhood most days.

I want to post here more often but to be honest, I don't have much to talk about. My life is pretty boring. For the most part, I work and sit around and home, that sums up the majority of my days. I don't like to talk about work here because I've seen to many people get fired for posting on social media about work. If I was completely anonymous, I would take the chance but I'm not. I don't even post on my personal Facebook about work even though it's set at Friends Only. I'm not one to talk a lot about work anyways. I generally forget about work when I'm not there. I come home, talk about it for a few minutes with my wife and then I'm done. I don't know why people carry that baggage home with them every night.

At home, I sit around and watch TV and play around on my laptop. I'm usually working on my baseball card blogs as I'm trying to log in every card I own, along with photos and descriptions so needless to say, that takes a long time. I've been working at that for over a year now. Most days I just log in what I got that day and then my weekends I tend to go nuts and spend hours working on them. This weekend I didn't as I drove up to Ann Arbor (2 1/2 hours, one way) for the Michigan spring game so that took up my whole Saturday. Sunday was Easter and I spent most of the day at my moms so I haven't done much of anything this past weekend.

I used to do a lot of posts about music but I have a whole blog for my music now. I also used to post about theEx and the JackAss (click the labels on the right side) and for the most part, I don't deal with them much. The kids are older now and have their own cell phones so she usually contacts them and asks if they can come over. She hasn't paid support in 3 years so I make her pick them up and drop them off here so I don't have to deal with waiting on her at a meeting place anymore. My daughter just says what she wants to her so I don't have to stand up for the kids when they are over there anymore. So that topic has also fallen by the wayside. I still read but it's down to less than a book a week because of my job change (I only read on breaks at work) so technically, I could still blog about that but it still wouldn't be often.

   

Last night, I read where a blogging friend of mine found some writing prompts to try to get herself writing some more. I've done the A to Z Challenge for a couple of years but I just don't like being told I have to post 6 days a week. The 2013 one I had the kids write down a word and wrote about it, 2014 I did my music tracks but again, I have a whole blog for my music now.

So I googled blog writing prompts and started taking a few off of a couple of lists and was making a list of my own but then I came across a list with over 600 prompts on it. I said, screw my list and just bookmarked that page. Now my goal will be to just random that page, and write about what comes up. I won't be posting daily by any means but I will post more often. I would like to do a couple a week, at minimum.

Plus, with blogging every few days, I can update the walking stats on the bottom of those posts so there's that as well.

So that's a state of the blog kind of post to let you all know what's going on here. Let's see how well I keep to it, that will be the real challenge.

Stadium Tour #6

As I said yesterday, I got a walk in yesterday and ended up with over 3.5 miles for the day. I know it doesn't sound like a lot but it was a Sunday, usually I'm lucky to get a mile and a half on Saturday and Sunday combined.

Day 90, Madison, WI - 293.8 Miles

My stadium tour continued. I'm not hitting every stadium out there, just the ones I happen to think of at the time. Mainly MLB and Big Ten college stadiums.

1. Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago White Sox)
2. Soldier Field (Chicago Bears)
3. Ryan Field (Northwestern University)
4. Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs)
5. Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers)

I didn't show Ryan Field so you'll just have to trust me when I say I walked past it. Today, I'm adding this to the list.

Camp Randall (University of Wisconsin)

I have an idea where I'm heading next but I'm not positive. After passing the stadium, I headed South so we'll see from there.

Week #13 of 2016

I actually had a good week, walking wise that is. I went walking after work on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. I got over 8,000 steps (my daily goal) every work day this week. Monday was a nice day so I headed out after work. Tuesday was chilly and windy so I opted out. Wednesday was nice again so I went but on Thursday, it was chilly and windy but I had to take my car in to get looked at and rather then just sitting in the lounge waiting, I brought my walking stuff, dropped off the car and went for a walk. The route I picked ended up being 2.4 miles (I usually walk a little over 2 miles). It kicked my ass but it wasn't the extra mileage, it was using a sidewalk and for part of it, I had to walk through grass and avoid water areas. The concrete they use on the sidewalks doesn't agree with my shin splints. I seem to do ok on asphalt or whatever else roads are made of, but the sidewalks didn't agree with me.

On Friday, I had to stay after work because the 2nd shift guy didn't show up, plus it was chilly again so once again I opted out. Saturday, however, was sunny and in the 60's but we know I never walk on Saturday. I decided to get my ass out there and go. I walked down to my mom's house, which ended up being 2.7 miles. She then drove me home since I had to go pick up the kids and she was heading towards my house anyways.

Since yesterday ended up being 2.7 miles, I decided to up it today and walked a 3 mile route. I had to walk past my house about 100 feet and back just to get the 3 miles but I got it. I haven't decided if I'm going to stick to the 2 miles after work or do the 3. I'm definitely doing the 3 on days I don't work but since I get so many steps at work, I may only do the 2 on those days.

Day 89 (Madison, WI) - 290.2 Miles

With my 3 mile walk today, that should put me where I wanted to walk by in Madison tomorrow, so maybe I'll even get a post out.

This was posted to my Random Thoughts Facebook page.

Apparently I didn't tweet so much this week.

My wife hates being called that so you know I'm going to teach them. I already told the 2 kids that live with me and told the oldest daughter and they all agreed to teach their kids to call her that.

Hard To See by Five Finger Death Punch

Lick It Up by KISS

What's It Like by Everclear

Supernatural by DC Talk

Crazy Bitch by Buckcherry

Prayer by Disturbed

Always by Atlantic Starr

58,336 steps isn't the most I've ever had in a week but it's been a long time since I've had that many. We'll see if I can't beat it this week.

Week #12 of 2017

I'm blaming the fact that I worked over 60 hours this week for not posting any. It's probably not true but it's a legitimate excuse. Just don't let anyone in my family know that I complained about all those hours because my brother averages that every week and I get no sympathy, they just compare my normal week to his. In case you haven't read my tweets in the last couple of weeks, he's the better brother.

My hours will go back to normal next week. We had inventory on Friday and Saturday. For some reason, we had to work 10 hours on Monday and Tuesday to "prepare" for inventory. I was supposed to work normal hours Wednesday but the 2nd shift guy called in so I stayed over. Normal hours on Thursday, then Friday was scheduled 12 hours and Saturday they didn't let me go home until 13 1/2 hours later. Most of that time was sitting on my ass but it still wasn't very relaxing.

Day 83 (Lake Mills, WI - 257.5 Miles)

I'm out in the middle of nowhere so not much going on. It's finally warmed up to the 60's and 70's but it's been raining. Also, I worked a lot so not much extra walking last week. Hopefully, next week I'll be able to go walking after work and make up all those weekends. At least I only have to make up one day this weekend since I worked yesterday.

This was posted to my Random Thoughts Facebook page.

That win was nice, but it was the last one.

I swear I forget something every Monday. Either my biscuit or silverware for my lunch.

I don't care if we lost, you always have to represent. Although, that hat is now gone. Someone stole it Friday night because I leave it at work. It was a ratty work hat so I'm not sure why someone wanted it.

I thought it was funny.

I support pretty much everything that has to do with the Wolverines.

He's usually hiding in his room all evening but he was out here talking our ear off.

They fuck you in the drive-thru

Heard it again, I wonder if there will be a week that I don't hear it.

Mr. Brightside by the Killers

Pride (In the name of Love) by U2

Every Storm (Runs out of Rain) by Gary Allan

Get On Your Knees and Fight Like A Man by Petra

Misery Business by Paramore

Pain it Black by the Rolling Stones

Ignore that 54 floors, it's never right. It's usually to low but one day said I had 20 some floors and it was my normal day where I get 5 to 7.